Page 7 of Stolen Fire (N.O.A.H (Nostradamus Outerspace Advancement of Humanity) #2)

Blaize and Dez strode down the corridor toward the engine room, not speaking.

As they got to the opening to Veda’s greenhouse, Dez held his hand up, and she stopped.

He froze and tilted his head like he could hear something.

Blaize couldn’t hear anything but the usual ship whirring and hissing, a low background noise she’d come to associate with all systems normal.

Dez held up his hand again and mouthed the word, Stay .

She nodded, and he slinked toward the greenhouse so silently that no one would hear him coming.

“Veda.” Dez’s voice boomed through the doorway which he filled.

Blaize moved closer, but quietly, so she didn’t draw the big man’s wrath.

“Where did he go?” Dez didn’t move from the door, but his head was swiveling, peering into the room in all directions. Blaize tried to see around him, but all she caught was a brief glimpse of Veda, whose brow was wrinkled as she bit her lip.

“Veda. Where did that man go?”

“Um…” Veda sounded like she was about to cry. “Please don’t be mad. He saved Blaize’s life.”

“Where is he?” Dez’s voice was so loud, Blaize jumped back and crashed into the far wall of the corridor. He turned his glare on her. “I told you to wait.”

Blaize didn’t move. She was prey, and he was in full predator mode. Freezing might not be wise, but it was instinctual.

“This is Cifer.” Veda spoke as soon as Dez turned back to the room.

Blaize crept up beside him so she could see in.

There stood the impressive male who’d rescued her.

Copper skin highlighted his brown eyes with flecks of green.

Long brown hair fell just past his very wide shoulders.

He wasn’t as tall as Dez, but he was thick with muscles.

She had a strange impulse to ask him to remove his shirt.

“Furcifer Msuya. Cifer.” The stowaway held out his hand.

Dez growled. His normally gray skin had a red cast, and his yellow eyes practically glowed. She’d never heard him make that sound or look so angry.

Cifer was in big trouble. She had to say something. “Dez, he saved my life. He had to get off Kolben. I know it looks bad, but?—”

“Blaize, it more than looks bad. It is bad. He’s a stowaway.” Dez shook his head. “Veda. Showing him around? Really? And Blaize, why did you wait so long to tell me your concerns?”

“She didn’t know I was on board until after the ER jump. A fixture came loose from the ceiling.”

“Did I ask you to speak?” Dez puffed up even larger, blocking Blaize’s view completely. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t eject you right now.”

“I can pay, for my transport. I didn’t have the luxury of negotiating passage while I was on the planet, but I’m more than able to cover the cost of my travel.”

Blaize found herself believing everything Cifer said and wanting to hear more. But the last time she’d been enamored by a male, he had stolen her ship out from under her. She couldn’t trust her own judgment. Maybe Dez should space Cifer out the airlock.

“Dez, we can put him in the cargo hold. Talk about it with Cyra?” Veda was begging.

“I’m the security officer. I don’t require the captain’s approval to deal with security violations that threaten the safety of this crew.”

“But he didn’t threaten our safety. He saved my life.” Blaize clenched her jaw shut to keep from rattling on.

“His presence is a threat.”

“You didn’t even know he was here.” Veda’s voice carried into the hallway. She was never that loud.

“That’s exactly my point, Veda,” Dez barked back at her.

“Please, can we talk it over with the captain and the crew? He’s a good guy,” Veda begged.

Were they being taken in by a gorgeous male with a sexy voice who’d done one good deed? For all Blaize knew, the guy had engineered the accident so he could save her and make her his advocate.

“I’m more than willing to be placed in whatever holding cell you deem appropriate if you would please consider my offer. I can pay premium prices. I have no intention of harming anyone or being a burden of any kind.”

That voice. It caressed Blaize’s back and stroked her hair. She fell so easily under his spell. She shook her head and opened her mouth to offer her reformed opinion to Dez: eject the stowaway.

“Fine. You can stay in the locked cargo hold while we discuss the matter with the captain. We have security feeds in that area. If you do anything that I deem a threat, those will be your last actions inside this ship.”

“I understand. Thank you.” Cifer’s conciliatory tone might be just another manipulation, but it sounded convincing.

Blaize stuffed her fists into the pockets of her coveralls and stomped down to the engine room. Working on the systems would help her calm down and get over whatever power that male had with his voice. Apparently it worked on males, too. Otherwise, how would he have convinced Dez to compromise?

“Blaize, meet us in the galley,” Dez called to her.

She waved acknowledgment, but she had to inspect the light fixture first.

Blaize slumped into a chair in the galley, frustrated with the interruption.

Her emotions swirled, disrupting any logical thought she attempted.

She didn’t know anything about the Cifer guy, except he was a criminal stowaway and he’d saved her life.

She huffed and balled her hands into fists in her pockets.

Veda fussed with the hot drink dispenser.

For some reason, the medic prepared tea for any difficult discussion.

There was no tea on Blaize’s childhood planet, and the inhabitants had survived plenty of difficult discussions—mostly.

Veda placed the steaming cup in front of her. It would be bad manners to ignore it.

“Thanks, Veda.” She removed her hands from her pockets and wrapped them around the drink. The warmth seeping into her hands and up her arms did feel good. She took a deep breath. Maybe Veda had a point after all.

Dez and Cyra were the last ones to join the meeting. Dez ignored his tea and remained standing.

“There’s been a security incident on the ship. We have an unauthorized passenger currently being held in the cargo hold.”

“What? How is this possible?” Bodi’s voice was shrill and her face pale. Her hands trembled slightly, and her wings twitched as she reached for her tea.

“There was a window where we were awaiting the fuel delivery and cargo loads, and everyone was otherwise occupied. The loading bay was left unattended. I was assured by the dock master when we landed that the ship would be guarded at all times, but I think we know that wasn’t the case. ” Dez’s voice remained calm but tight.

Not even close. Blaize crossed her arms and curled in on herself. She should have been more vigilant.

Cyra gave his hand a quick squeeze before letting him go again.

“We can’t fix the breach, but we need to decide what action we are taking with him.”

“Him? Is he cute?” Rhysa bounced a little in her seat.

Blaize glared at Rhysa to no effect.

“He’s very kind.” Veda sat down finally. “He saved Blaize’s life.”

“What? Your life was threatened?” Bodi snapped her attention to Blaize.

“There was a loose light in the engine room. Must have come loose during the jump, and it gave way, but he kept it from crashing into me.”

Bodi shuddered but said nothing.

“How do you know it was the jump? Couldn’t he have sabotaged the light?” Rhysa asked.

“Why would you assume that?” Veda’s eyebrows were pinched.

“I’m not assuming anything. He could be an assassin for all we know.”

“An assassin?” Bodi gasped. Her wings buzzed. Definitely not the party girl Blaize knew.

“He’s not an assassin.” Veda’s voice was louder than Blaize had ever heard it. She had to explain.

“In addition to the light fixture being so high it would require a hoist to get to it, it would be difficult to predict where I would be in the engine room when the light fixture failed. If he’s an assassin, he sucks.

Besides, I think he’s trying to steal a ride, not kill anyone.

He’s been on the ship for cycles, and there’ve been no problems.” Other than him watching her as she did her job.

Did he watch her at other times? The hair on her arms raised.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s an escaped miner, but I mean, who wouldn’t want to get away from that place?

He says he’s working a contract for another planet. ”

“Blaize has a very good point,” Dez spoke over her words as they continued to spew out of her mouth. “It is unlikely that he is on the ship to intentionally harm anyone. Otherwise, why prevent the accident?” Dez’s focus was on Bodi.

“But he’s still a stowaway.” Bodi turned the teacup in her hands.

“He is. And we are well within our rights to eject him. Honestly, it was my gut response.” Dez’s voice was gentle but firm, and his yellow eyes traveled over each of them. “As the crew, and Cyra’s partners, it is appropriate for you each to have a say in what happens to him.”

“The extra weight on the ship will impact my fuel calculations, and he will need to be fed.” Blaize offered up the facts as calmly as possible. “Will that hurt our food reserves?” The vote needed to consider all the variables, not just the fact that Cifer’s voice made her want to melt.

“Valid points.” Rhysa tapped her lip with her forefinger.

“Are we so tight on fuel that the added hundred kilos will create a problem?” Cyra asked.

“No.” Heat burned Blaize’s cheeks. “But it’s not free.”

“As for food, my queen—er, the captain—worries I don’t eat enough.

” Blaize thought Dez’s slip was cute but held back her grin.

“I believe we have sufficient stores should he prove to be ravenous.” It was obvious he wanted to be professional, but hell, with the way the ship had to be boosted to make it out of atmosphere, everyone was on intimate terms with Cyra—at least as a voyeur.

“Has he told you why he’s on the ship?” Rhysa asked.